1 USHER TRAINING RESURRECTION LUTHERAN CHURCH

2 AGENDA Welcome & Session Overview…… Tom Evans Ushering – The Pastors Perspectives…..Pastor Jim Ushers Responsibilities………………………...Denise Guest Answering Your Questions…………………… All

3 GUIDE FOR USHERS Thank you for volunteering to be an Usher! You contribute by serving as: 1) hosts for members and visitorsgreeting them and attending to their special needs; 2) recorders of essential attendance data; 3) worship guides for the Offering, Holy Communion and other special functions; 4) caregivers if someone becomes ill; & 5) caretakers to ensure that the sanctuary is in order.

4 Before the Worship Service: Arrive minutes before the first service starts earlier if its snowing. Arrive 20 minutes before the late service. Wear your name tag or the Usher tag. Check-in with the Council Person-of-the-day. Inspect sidewalks. Ensure sanctuary is in order. Place offering plates in back of sanctuary.

5 Before the Worship Service: (Continued) Check to be sure the communion elements are in the credenza. Ensure the visitors table in the narthex is orderly. The visitor log and prayer list should be available. Check with Pastors and Council Person-of-the-day for any special instructions. In the absence of acolytes, light the altar candles 5 minutes prior to start of worship. Place cup of water at the pulpit.

6 Before the Worship Service: (Continued) Greet/welcome members and visitors as they enter the sanctuary. SMILE !! Invite visitors to sign the guest book Point out visitor to Council member and/or some other friendly face to be sure they feel welcomed Be cognizant of any special needs Assist with seating as necessary. This is especially important when attendance is large.

7 During the Service: Close doors at beginning of service. Be alert for late-comers, and greet them with bulletins. Seat people as necessary. Avoid seating during Confession, Prayers, or reading of Scripture. Be attentive to possible excess noise in the narthex. Record attendance during or after the first hymn. Receive Offering. Using the side aisles, start at front pews and proceed to back. Present Offering & Communion Elements

8 During the Service: (Continued) Usher during Communion. Communion by Tables: Communion received around the altar with 2 tables of approximately people each. Invite people forward to receive communion using the side aisles. Start at the back, beginning with the center pews, move forward to the front and return back with outside pews. [Note: If there are people sitting along the back wall, invite these people forward first, then proceed to the back center pews.] Try to avoid delays from the dismissal of one table to the arrival of the next. Also, try to avoid separating families by different tables. Be alert to the fact that Choir members typically join their families as they come forward.

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10 During the Service: (Continued) Usher During Communion. Communion by Intinction: Communion is received as people come forward by the center isle to one or two stations in front of the alter. They return to their pews by way of the side isles. Ushers direct people forward using the center isle, starting at the front, beginning with the center pews. A queue is formed so that there is a continuous flow of people receiving Communion. After people in the center pews have either received Communion, or are in line, those in the side pews are invited to come forward starting at the front. People are directed to go down the side isles to the back of the sanctuary and join the queue in the center isle.

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12 During the Service: (Continued) Usher During Communion. Continuous Communion (Not often used): There are no separate tables; rather there is a continuous flow of people coming forward to receive Communion at the alter rail, and returning to their pew by the center isle. Ushers invite people forward using the side isles starting at the back, beginning with the center pews. Those coming forward form a queue at the front of the side isle, and come to the alter rail as there is a space. For all forms of Communion, be attentive to people who may need assistance in walking. Inquire if the person would like to receive communion at the pew. If so, inform the Pastor after others have received Communion.

13 During the Service : (Continued) Throughout the service, be prepared for any emergency that mayarise. Should there be a medical emergency, assess the situation, call 911 as necessary. If appropriate, assist the ill or injured person to the narthex. Know the location of the first aid kit (kitchen) and fire extinguishers. Having a cell phone with you when ushering could be helpful in emergencies. (Turn off ringer).

14 After the Service: Clean up sanctuary by straightening Hymnals and Bibles (upright with front (title) visible), collecting discarded bulletins and inserts, replacing pens/pencils, and picking up trash. After the late service, turn off lights, and reset thermostat, if necessary. Rejoice! You have served well. Thank you!

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16 YOUR QUESTIONS ???